HANDOUT To understand about global warming, you have to read this handout, then you can ask your friends and teachers if there are things that are difficult to understand. A. Greenhouse Effect There are in the Earth's atmosphere a lot of greenhouse gases naturally. The water cycle, carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane are some important parts in it. Without these greenhouse gases, life on Earth would not have happened. As well as planet Mars, Earth will also be very cold if there are no greenhouse gases in its atmosphere. Conversely, if the amount of greenhouse gases continues to increase in the atmosphere, the Earth's temperature will increase. Think about it, which one would you choose? Even though CO2, the water cycle, and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are transparent to solar radiation, the gases are still capable of capturing and absorbing light radiation radiating to Earth in quantities. Earth will also reflect partially absorbed radiation. Under normal circumstances, the amount of heat radiation is absorbed by that reflected the same. Nowadays, increasing air pollution causes the greenhouse effect changed. Often we hear the term greenhouse effect, what exactly is the effect the greenhouse? The greenhouse effect is a natural healing process occurs when greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat radiation from Earth. This process is when solar radiation hitting the Earth's surface, it will cause the Earth to become hot. Heat radiation Earth will be emitted again into the atmosphere. Hot which is reflected by the Earth is blocked by air pollutants so trapped and reflected to Earth. This process will withstand some trapped heat then causes Earth's temperature to rise. As a result, the Earth remains warm and the temperature is increasing. These greenhouse gases let sunlight into the Earth. However, the gas reflects to the Earth's surface. Thus, conditions on Earth remain warm. Like a house whose walls are made of glass. As an illustration, look at the following Figure. B. Global Warming Global warming is a term used to describe increase in the average temperature of the atmosphere Earth and oceans gradually, as well a change that is believed to be permanently changing Earth's climate. Human activity always produce various substances residual wrong waste one of them is gas. Partly great people think that the atmosphere can absorb the exhaust gases indefinitely and does not cause a bad impact on life. However, it is currently known that the number of exhaust gases can cause changes fundamental in the atmosphere and also the conditions of life on Earth. Various human activities such as the use of fossil fuels, logging and burning forests for conversion to agricultural land, residential and industrial will contribute CO2 to the atmosphere in numbers a lot. Over several periods, CO2 in the atmosphere increases approx. 20%. Increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases such as CO2 will affect heat levels on Earth. Much of the solar radiation is shining onto the surface Earth than reflected into space. Increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere during The last 150 years made scientists concerned because it is closely related to rising global temperatures. More than a century, scientists have studied how gases greenhouses warm the Earth and how burning fossil fuels contributes to warming Earth's temperature. Most of the scientists believe that global warming has started and will increase rapidly in this century. Over 100 years ago, the temperature the average temperature on the Earth's surface increases about 0.6 C. This increase in temperature is called heating global. Global warming is a term used to describe a gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans and a change that is believed to change Earth's climate permanently. C. The cause of global warming All forms of human activity always impact the environment, be it brings a positive impact or a negative impact. So it is with conditions Earth's atmosphere is currently changing due to human activity. Burning of fossil fuels and cutting down forests can increase CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Due to CO2 is one of the greenhouse gases, then increasing CO2 levels in the atmosphere will contribute to global warming. Therefore, every year CO2 levels in the atmosphere continuously increased. Some of the factors that cause global warming include the following: 1. CO2 emissions which come from burning fossil fuels for generating electric power. 2. CO2 emissions which come from burning gasoline as a tool fuel transportation. 3. Methane emissions from animals, agricultural land, and from the Arctic seabed. 4. Deforestation (illegal logging) accompanied by burning of land Forest. 5. The use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the refrigerator (cooler). 6. Increased use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture. D. Impact of Global Warming As stated earlier, that human activity has changed the nature of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The consequences of greenhouse gas changes in the atmosphere are difficult to predict but have few impacts that have appeared, namely as follows. 1. Earth's temperature is getting higher, in some regions maybe the temperature may be higher, and in other regions, it may not be. 2. Higher Earth temperatures can cause more evaporation and bulk rain as a whole, but each region will vary, some get wet and the other part dry. 3. Melting glaciers that cause levels of seawater is rising. Likewise, over time, with the sloping coastal land, it will have increased due to water stagnation. 4. Loss of coral reefs. A report about the stated coral reef that under the worst conditions, coral populations will disappear by 2100 due to increasing temperature and ocean acidification. As it is known that many species others whose lives depend on reefs coral. 5. Widespread extinction of species. According to published research in Nature magazine, temperature increase can lead to the extinction of more than one million species. To date the loss of species is expanding, and the list of species is endangered continues to grow and increase. 6. Massive crop failure. According to recent research, there are 90% 3 billion people worldwide will likely have to choose between go with his family to a place with good climate or hunger due to climate change over 100 years. 7. Depletion of the ozone layer. The ozone layer is one of the layers of the atmosphere located in the stratosphere, which is about 17-25 km above the surface Earth. This layer protects the Earth from the dangers of ultra-light radiation violet (UV). Based on satellite observations, it is known that the ozone layer gradually depletion since the middle of the year 1970. E. Efforts to Overcome Global Warming The biggest cause of global warming is carbon dioxide (CO2) which released when fossil fuels such as oil and coal are burned to generate energy. The amount of use of fossil fuels for human activities will contribute to the increase in CO2 in the air. The ozone layer's damage is an example of the impact of activity humans who disturb the balance of the ecosystem and the biosphere. Condition high pollutant gases in the air causing global warming. Several attempts can be made to overcome heating global, including the following. 1. Using renewable energy and reducing coal, gasoline, wood and other organic fuels. 2. Improve vehicle fuel efficiency. 3. Reducing deforestation 4. Reducing the use of products containing (CFCs) using friendly products environment. 5. Support and participate in reforestation activities. Reference:
